Thief: X (22 page)

As the pain grew stronger the glamor surrounding Clockwork stripped back. The weird clown look was melting away and underneath a man in a suit appeared. A man who I recognised.

“Clive?” I’d recognise those beady eyes anywhere,

“What’s he got to do with it?” Marshall couldn’t see past the glamor. Whoopie, it was just me then,

“Clockwork isn’t a clown, he’s Clive!” I yelled because everyone had suddenly stopped,

“You mean the pen clicking, clipboard holding assistant?” I wonder if the Major knew that Clockwork had been under his nose all this time?

“Look, I don’t mean to be rude but
can we get back to killing?
” I was getting impatient,

“Isn’t this interesting? The little sin eater can see through magic. Shame it won’t do you any good.” He raised his arms and started chanting. Symbols burned to life on the walls and then sizzled out. “Why isn’t this working? I had enough sin eaters to drain!” Clockwork looked petulant as he kicked the floor,

“Yeah, about that…they’re dead.” I laughed. Clockwork had obviously been so engrossed down here he hadn’t heard a thing that was going on upstairs,

“How dare you! Never mind…never mind…they were only batteries…” He rambled. Those sin eaters thought they were going to be free if they worshiped Clockwork but they were only power conduits. “Never mind! I have you.” He started to laugh.

Marshall pushed me behind him to protect me. I really didn’t need to be protecting,

“You’ll have to get through me first.” Marshall aimed his gun at Clockwork and I sighed behind his back,

“I don’t need this.” I mumbled.

Clockwork strode towards him and smiled, “Let’s see what your deepest, darkest sin is, shall we?”

The basement phased out and we were now watching a part of Marshall’s life he obviously wanted to forget. I could draw moments like this from people but I was the only person who could see them. Clockwork was already a powerful sin eater in his own right to be able to do this.

A couple were arguing in a car with a baby strapped in its carrier on the back seat. It was a very young Marshall driving and I guessed it was his wife sitting next to him,

“Marshall I’m seventeen, I have a life,”

“And you’ve decided I’m not a part of it? What about Chloe, doesn’t she deserve a father?” Marshall was clutching the steering wheel so tight I could see the white of his knuckles,

“She’s not part of it either. I told you I wanted her adopted but you wanted to be the big man and do what was right. I thought I could handle it but I can’t. I’m going to live with my Aunt in Colorado and she doesn’t know about either of you.”

“You can’t do this Wendy! I might mean nothing to you but Chloe’s your daughter.” Marshall was trying to hold back tears but one fell from his cheek. I hated watching the sins of others,

“I don’t want what you want Marshall. You’re going to follow in your daddy’s footsteps. I saw the application to join the police force. I know what you’re doing. You’ll work your way up to get experience and then become a Texas Ranger. I will not wait at home with a baby wondering if you’ve been killed in the line of duty. It’s too much!”

“I won’t apply.” He was practically begging,

“It’s too late. As soon as we get home I’m packing a bag and leaving. Chloe will be better off with you and your family.”

“You’re a heartless bitch!” Marshall yelled. I could see the anger in his face but it wasn’t anger because she didn’t want him, it was anger because she didn’t want her own daughter,

“How dare you!” She turned and slapped him.

All it took was that second. Marshall was too stunned to notice the red light. Something hit. The car crunched and rolled. When it came to a stop the only sounds heard was a baby crying and the drip of blood that was running from Wendy’s ear.

The basement came crashing back and Marshall was on his knees crying. No wonder his sin always felt greater than others. He blamed himself for killing his wife and because he was at the wheel, the sin was true. It had been an accident, a tragic accident.

Clockwork was smiling and kicking at Marshall who was so traumatized he wasn’t fighting back. It’s a good job he had me. I pulled out my Glock from my ankle holster and shot Clockwork six times in the heart. He staggered back clutching at his chest and swooned. He actually swooned! The laugh gave him away. Why wouldn’t he just die? He pulled open his shirt and I saw exactly why he wasn’t dead. He didn’t have a heart. In its place were cogs grinding away,

“Ah, now I get the name,” and I understood what he wanted to heal.

“You can’t kill me that way you idiot.”

“And you can’t heal and make yourself a God either. The girls are gone so you may as well give up now.” I took a nice long drag of my cigar and blew the smoke in his face,

“I don’t need them anymore. I’ve drained enough power from them to make the ritual work. It’s amazing how keeping them alive restores their energy levels. Although I didn’t expect all my sin eater to get themselves killed. Never mind though, I have you now.” He muttered something under his breath and his smile was scary. It looked like I was now on the menu.

I ran at him but hit something hard, “Do you really think I wouldn’t cast a power circle for this?” I ran at it again and felt my skin sizzle. I fired silver bullets but nothing broke through, “Just give in Xan, make it easier on yourself. I’ve read your file. This is what you want; death. Let me help you.” He began chanting and my body became stiff,

“Fuck you!” I could feel my power humming inside me,

“I can feel your power already. You had so much potential and wasted it all. Never mind…never mind…it's mine now.” He was pulling the power from my sin eater side,

“You do know I’m only half sin eater?” He looked at me puzzled, “I guess you didn’t find out my other secret. You should always do your research.” I stepped forward slowly, breaking whatever was holding me in place. I could hear Clockwork screaming at me but he continued drawing sin from me. He was getting stronger and I was starting to feel the strain of what he was doing,

“Give up Xan, you can’t win. I’m a stronger sin eater than you.” He was probably right but I had something he didn’t; Cain.

The problem with knowledge, once you had it you didn’t always want it. I felt sorry for Eve and what she must have felt when she ate that apple. I only had the leaves and I didn’t want the knowledge that had come with them. Unfortunately, they also told me what I needed to do.

Marshall had finally shook himself free of his mind and was staring at me,

“Get mom and Cam out. I’m ending this now.” I said turning my head to him. I could see the silent plea in his eyes but I had to finish this. He nodded and I turned my head back to Clockwork. I trusted Marshall to do what he needed to,

“You’re delicious.” The cogs in his chest sprang free as new muscles began to form. I watched as a heart replaced the metal. The first beat made him stumble but he soon recovered. “I have to say I thought you’d be dead by now?” He was starting to glow. Age spots and wrinkles disappeared. He was getting younger, back to his prime.

“You want everything I have?” I yelled,

“Oh yes I do!”

“Good. Take it. ALL. OF. IT!” Instead of fighting the drain, I pushed with it.

I concentrated and saw every molecule in my body. He wanted it so he could have it. I felt myself spinning out of control. My molecules exploded. I no longer had form. I was a conscience floating in the wind, except the wind was me. Adram had warned me years ago about not having a physical form but I didn’t care if I could reform or not.

Clockwork was pulling me inside him and I let myself go, “Amazing!” He laughed.

I was soon deep enough to see what made him live. Neurons sparked, organs pumped, muscles spasmed and I was right in the middle of it all. He felt powerful now but I was still alive and it was time he wasn’t.

“No….no…no…something isn’t right!” I felt him clawing at his chest.

I dove deep into his very essence and started changing it. I manipulated his cells from the inside, creating ash were there should have been blood. Stone were there should have been skin. Immortality was an illusion. There was only one person truly immortal and Clockwork wasn’t him. The change was nearly complete and I started pushing, making myself bigger, expanding my form. First there was one crack and then another until Clockwork exploded. I’d wanted more blood for what he’d been responsible for but seeing his broken body made me smile. Or rather, I thought I smiled, it was hard to tell without a mouth.

I was floating and felt at peace until I saw Marshall, Adram and Father Thomas appear,

“It looks like she did something to Clockwork.” Adram said kicking at a piece of rock that looked like a hand. I tried to roll my eyes because he was clutching bags filled with merchandise. He’d obviously come to find me via the souvenir shop.

“I’ll collect all this up and make sure it’s locked away, just in case.” Father Thomas said.

“But where is she?” Marshall was looking for me. I tried to tell him I was here but yet again not having a mouth was a problem,

“Wait, don’t move any of you.” Adram sniffed and then licked his finger. He walked around the room pointing it and stopped directly under me. “Oh Xan, I told you not to do that.” Adram sounded mournful.

“What are you talking about? There’s no one here.” Marshall stormed up to him,

“She’s directly above us. I told her not to manifest into air but she’s gone and done it anyway.”

“There has to be a way to bring her back?” Marshall said looking directly at me but not realising. I wanted to reform, I tried. I had the knowledge but it seemed I didn’t have the will,

“Maybe you’re wrong? Maybe she is gone.” Father Thomas sighed,

“Xan if you can hear me, come back. We have unfinished business.” Marshall pleaded,

“Plus you still have Dorian to kill, the Elk is still out there and the Librarian needs a slap again.” Adram did have a point and I laughed,

“Did you hear that?” Marshall said,

“Was that someone laughing?” Father Thomas smiled,

“If you can laugh, you can get your arse back down here right now.” I laughed again and I felt myself coming back together.

Molecules began to attach. I started drifting down and then I felt the cold floor underneath me,

“Is she meant to look like a puddle?” I could see Father Thomas looking over me,

“Give her a minute.” Adram said pushing him out the way, “Xan, seriously, if you don’t pull yourself together, quite literally might I add, I’m going to molest the cowboy because you obviously don’t want him and he’s
obviously
too hot to waste.”

“I can’t believe she still has that cigar in her mouth!” Father Thomas laughed. Apparently Adram’s little talk had worked. “Is she dead?” He leaned over me to check if I was breathing,

“You…ex…comm…un…icated…me.” I whispered in his ear,

“She’s ok.” He sighed.

“Is everyone out? Alive? Mom? Cam?” My throat was sore and I couldn’t move. I felt my flask hit my mouth and the bitter taste of vodka and sin slid down my throat.

“Don’t talk. Your death wish took a lot out of you.” I looked at Marshall and smiled. I didn’t even argue when his arms wrapped around me and he carried me home.

It took me two weeks to recover. The first couple of days I hadn’t been able to move and Adram had sat with me. Talking had been a problem because I hadn’t had enough energy to reform my vocal cords properly. This also meant I couldn’t tell Adram to shut up or change the TV channel when he decided to put The Wizard of Oz on repeat. Oh and did I mention he did it all in various costumes and sang along. By the end of that day I wanted to choke him in his ruby slippers. By the second week I had my voice back and could move a little more.

I could finally tell Marshall to stop stalking outside my door and come in. He told me that all the girls were safe, tired and broken but safe. My mom and Cam couldn’t remember a thing after the trackers had attacked my house. I was so glad because my mom was a drama queen at the best of times. I was happy Marshall had his daughter back and they’d decided to stay a little longer. My dad, in his ultimate wisdom, was allowing them to rent a little cottage the other side of the village.

He didn’t mention the kiss but I did. I couldn’t deny I had feelings for him but I wanted to take things slow because of how I felt. I didn’t want to rush into things with him because when I did, shit happened. Dorian was a good example of that. And talking of that twat, Dorian had disappeared. Kibble had sent out a warning to all his contacts that if they spotted Dorian he wanted to know and then I’d go hunting. Even the Elk was laying low. He had probably locked himself away in his amusement park. With all the changelings popping up he’d soon have a battle on his hands to keep his throne.

I also kept my promise to Bernie. She was now part of a pack again and enjoying every minute. What I hadn’t told her was that I had to pay her father for her release from his pack. Adram thought I was going mad and my brain hadn’t formed properly. What was two million between friends? Maybe Cain was right and I did have soul after all? Margot was staying with Father Thomas who visited me everyday, wanting me to talk about Cain. Cain had been strangely quiet. He hadn’t appeared in my dreams since I’d killed Clockwork, which meant I’d actually slept properly.

Today was the day I finally managed to get out of bed. Peeing had been a logistical nightmare for two weeks, so the first thing I did was run to the loo and then I soaked in the bath until I felt human again, or whatever I truly was. My mom had even made my bed and laid out my clothes when I came out of the bathroom. If only she did this everyday. As I got dressed something felt wrong. I could hear banging and people shouting. I grabbed my Glock and crept down stairs. As I turned the corner into the living room, my mom jumped out and I nearly shot her,

“Surprise!” Everyone yelled. I put the gun down and looked puzzled,

“You’ve forgotten your birthday again haven’t you?” My mom laughed. I looked around the room and everyone was there, except for one person.

“Marshall will be here in a minute. He’s taken his daughter to enroll at university, so stop looking all doe eyed.” Adram slapped me on my back and snorted, “Your mother was telling me how you used to blow snot bubbles when you were a baby.” I glared at my mom and she shrugged. “Don’t worry I’m using a rather nice glamor with your mom. Apparently I’m quite handsome.”

“Don’t you dare hit on my mom.” I whispered in his ear when I hugged him,

“It’s not my fault your father’s working and she’s all alone.” He teased and I punched him in the arm.

There was a knock on the door and I literally ran out of the room to answer it. What was my libido doing to me? I opened the door and instead of a face was a massive bunch of flowers.

“Happy Birthday.” Marshall said handing me the flowers,

“Oh my god, I think I’m in a Body Form commercial.” I placed the flowers down and pulled him closer. This time I was the one doing the kissing. The thing about lying in bed for two weeks made me realise that I shouldn’t always isolate people and I was making sure in this moment Marshall knew I wasn’t pushing him away,

“Yuck you two!” Chloe pushed through the door heading for the living room.

I had no idea if she liked me or not. Marshall hadn’t dated much and she’d never really known her mom, so I had no idea how she’d react to another woman in his life. Luckily, I knew one person she liked and she headed straight for my brother. She looked so much like her dad and Cam had the same trouble I did with green eyes. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. It was the first time in years I hadn’t seen him with some electronic device in his hands. My brother was in love and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Wow, I thought you wanted to take things slow?” Marshall panted,

“I do but it’s my birthday.” I smiled,

“Great, I’ve forgot the other part of your present. I’ll just run and get it. I promise I won’t be long.” He gave me a quick kiss on the lips and ran towards his house.

“Are you coming to your own party or what?” Adram said poking his head into the corridor, “I mean your mom
is
getting mighty flirty!”

“Don’t you bloody dare Adram.” I was marching after him when there was a knock on the door again,

“That was quick.” I yelled and opened the door wondering what my other present was. The second I opened the door I felt the bottom fall out of my world, “Cain.”

“Happy Birthday Alexandra.”